- Microsoft gives voluntary buyout offer to about 60,000 employees
Source: CBC News [Canadian state media]
“Microsoft said on Monday it is offering voluntary buyouts to many staff members as the technology giant looks to contain costs and help fund its massive AI investments. The offer was extended to about 60,000 employees according to Microsoft. The company had 223,000 full-time employees globally as of June 30, according to its annual filing, meaning more than a quarter of its global workforce would have received the buyout offer.” (10/26/26)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/microsoft-voluntary-buyout-9.7396520
- Waltz gets in shouting match with Cuban delegate at UN
Source: New York Post
“US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz got into a shouting match Tuesday with Cuba’s foreign minister on the floor of the UN’s General Assembly hall while detailing the communist regime’s ill-gotten wealth. The ambassador was calling attention to the ‘corrupt Cuban elites’, at one point displaying a photo of late dictator Fidel Castro wearing two Rolex watches worth around $40,000 in today’s money. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz shouts from the podium in the General Assembly hall. Waltz was detailing the communist regime’s real estate holdings at the UN. ‘According to the regime’s own statistics, that would pay for 55 years of an average Cuban wage,’ Waltz noted, before showing a photo of Miguel Díaz-Canel and saying, ‘It didn’t just start with Castro. This is the current Cuban president, also with a Rolex on.'” (10/27/26)
- CA: A “poison pill” could doom Proposition 40
Source: SFGate
“California’s billionaire tax proposal has become one of the midterm elections’ most controversial measures, with the entire country watching to see if California’s voters will approve an unprecedented tax on billionaires’ net worth. But before voters can actually say yes or no to the tax, they’ll have to figure out how to do it. Approving Proposition 40, the tax on billionaires, is surprisingly complicated because there are two other competing ballot measures that contain ‘poison pill’ language designed to cancel out Proposition 40. These other measures (Proposition 41 and Proposition 42) do not specifically say they are designed to kill the tax, and public polling shows that at least some voters who want to support the billionaire tax could be unknowingly planning to vote against it.” [editor’s note: Be thankful for small victories maybe – SAT] (10/27/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/prop40-billionaire-tax-poison-pill-22468923.php
- Sudan: Drone strike kills at least 21 and injures 40
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“At least 21 people have been killed and 40 others were wounded in a drone strike in Nyala, Darfur, the AFP news agency reported, citing a medical source and witnesses. A Nyala resident said that the attack took place at around 8pm (18:00 GMT) on Monday at a market in the north of the city – which serves as the de facto capital of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. … The Sudanese military, which has been at war with the RSF since April 2023, regularly strikes Nyala, where the RSF has declared an administration rivalling the military-backed, internationally recognised government in Khartoum. The RSF has in turn launched strikes targeting Khartoum’s airports, as well as dams and power stations in the government-controlled east.” (10/27/26)
- Colombia: Bomb blast near Venezuela border injures at least four police officers
Source: SFGate
“A bomb exploded Tuesday near a bridge that crosses Colombia’s border with Venezuela, injuring at least four police officers in the Colombian city of Cucuta, officials said. Norte de Santander provincial Gov. William Villamizar said on X that police were investigating who was responsible for the attack. The explosion was set off in front of the local branch of Colombia’s tax collection agency near the Francisco de Paula de Santander International bridge. Footage of the aftermath showed a truck and several motorcycles that were damaged by the blast. The attack comes as Colombia’s conservative government changes the nation’s security strategy and takes a more confrontational approach towards gangs and rebel groups.” (10/27/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/bomb-blast-near-colombia-s-border-with-22496999.php
- DC: Judge bars Trump regime from further tree-felling, closures, at golf course
Source: Politico
“A federal judge Monday night temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting down additional trees or closing down a public golf course that the president intends to upgrade to a championship-level course. Judge Ana Reyes, in a lengthy, cutting opinion, found that the president’s public statements were at odds with the administration’s assertions in court that the felling of more than 400 trees earlier this month was routine maintenance and not preparation for the president’s grand vision for East Potomac Golf Links. … A preservation group and two local residents asked the court to bar further tree cutting after theInterior Department earlier this month cut down more than 400 trees on short notice.” (10/26/26)
- The Longest Zero-Dollar Day
Well, the longest from here on out, anyway, unless this fundraiser lasts until after the winter solstice on December 21 (when the days stop shortening and start lengthening).
Our annual fundraiser total remains at $1,053.
Our goal is $5,503 — with supporter GL pledging to “match funds” for half of that once we’ve raised the first $2,751.50.
We’re a reader-supported publication.
You’re a reader. So …
PLEASE SUPPORT THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT’S DAILY NEWSPAPER!
… and have a great day!
Yours in liberty,
Tom Knapp
Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily - Ukraine: Local ceasefire, brokered by Melania Trump, takes effect
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“A localized ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia took effect early Tuesday ahead of a humanitarian mission brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump, as missile attacks resumed in Kyiv. The local pause in fighting started at 3 a.m. to allow an aid mission into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine later this week. According to her office, Melania Trump led talks with civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine after meeting with U.N. officials who briefed her on the situation in the town. … Up to 2,000 people are stranded in Oleshky with dwindling food and medicine. They are unable to leave because of explosive mines and drone attacks in the area, according to the U.N.” (10/27/26)
https://www.npr.org/2026/10/27/g-s1-150037/russia-ukraine-war
- Appeals court dismisses US DOJ’s request to force California regime to set aside ballots
Source: CBS News
“A federal appeals court on Monday dismissed the Justice Department’s effort to force California election officials to set aside thousands of ballots that the Trump administration claims may have been cast by alleged noncitizens. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said in a 2-1 decision that it lacked jurisdiction over the appeal and granted a motion by the top elections official from Los Angeles County to dismiss the effort. The federal government, Judges Mark Bennett and Gabriel Sanchez said, failed to allow a federal district court ‘adequate opportunity’ to consider its request for temporary relief. Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented.” (10/26/26)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/appeals-court-dismisses-doj-trump-california-ballots/
- France: Regime Makes Concessions to Students, but Not Enough to Halt Protests
Source: New York Times
“The French government announced on Monday that it would phase out an unpopular online university admissions platform, a significant concession to high school students who have led a protest movement that has mushroomed into weeks of nationwide unrest. The measure, one of several announced by the education ministry, did not mollify the students. Leaders of high school and university student groups called on them to protest again on Oct. 31 and Nov. 5, even after meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and hearing the proposals.” (10/26/26)
- Israel: Polls open as Netanyahu faces tough test
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“Voters in Israel are heading to the polls to elect 120 members of parliament, or the Knesset, in the first general vote since the October 2023 start of the genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s Likud Party and the far-right coalition it leads are facing off against an opposition bloc that includes the Yashar party, led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot.” (10/27/26)
- US DOJ seeks new charges against Comey
Source: Deutsche Welle [German state media]
“The US Justice Department has launched a third attempt to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of illegally disclosing national defense information in 2016. … The Justice Department filed a legal document known as a ‘criminal information’ in early October, shortly before the 10-year deadline for prosecuting the alleged offense. Unlike an indictment, a criminal information does not require approval from a grand jury or judge. Prosecutors say the filing allows them to extend the statute of limitations, which determines how long authorities have to bring criminal charges. Comey’s lawyers dispute that interpretation. They argue that federal law explicitly requires an indictment within 10 years and that the government’s filing does not meet that requirement. They have asked a judge to dismiss the case. A ruling is still pending.” (10/26/26)
https://www.dw.com/en/james-comey-usa-donald-trump/a-79771256
- AI giant Anthropic files to make stock market debut
Source: The Hill
“Anthropic publicly filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on Monday morning in what is expected to be a historic stock market debut. The S-1 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brings the Claude maker a step closer to becoming the first large frontier AI lab to go public. It is expected to be a major test for investors’ interest in the technology. The stock will trade under the ticker ANT on the Nasdaq exchange, according to the filing, and could happen as soon as November. The filing showed Anthropic’s revenue has drastically jumped in the past year, yet the company reported a net loss of $80.7 billion in the first half of this year. The company was valued earlier this year at $965 billion by private investors, The Associated Press reported.” (10/26/26)
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6171816-anthropic-files-for-ai-ipo/
- Algeria: Regime to send troops to Niger in first foreign deployment in over 50 years
Source: France 24 [French state media]
“Algeria on Sunday approved sending troops to neighbouring Niger to protect energy facilities, according to statements from both houses of parliament, in what is the country’s first foreign deployment of military forces since the 1970s. The rare measure comes as Algiers and Niamey strengthen security ties after moving earlier this year to repair strained relations and following a thwarted mutiny in Niger in August. The overseas deployment will be a first since Algiers sent troops to support Egypt during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.” (10/26/26)
- Mamdani advises New Yorkers on interacting with violent gang members; crybully rightists whine
Source: Fox News
“New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced viral backlash on Friday after posting instructions in Spanish on how residents should handle interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). … Mamdani explained ‘what every New Yorker should know’ if they ‘encounter ICE’, adding that ICE ‘cannot enter private spaces like your home, school, hospitals or private areas of a workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.’ Mamdani reminded New Yorkers they have the right to remain silent and gives tips on best practices for interacting with ICE, saying that ‘these are very frightening times for many people’. Mamdani’s post was quickly criticized by conservatives on social media, with many characterizing the video as the mayor encouraging obstruction of federal law enforcement and encouraging illegal immigration.” (10/26/26)
- Judge rules James Comey’s daughter unlawfully fired as federal prosecutor
Source: The Hill
“A federal judge ruled Monday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) unlawfully fired and must provide back pay to Maurene Comey, former FBI Director James Comey’s daughter who was terminated as a prosecutor last year. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman rejected the Trump administration’s arguments that it had constitutional authority to fire her. ‘Defendants’ argument is contrary to an unbroken line of Supreme Court decisions dating back almost two centuries, and the Supreme Court itself has not formally overruled any of those decisions. That is sufficient, in itself, to reject the argument,’ Furman wrote in his 55-page opinion. Maurene Comey has since taken another job and won’t be returning to the DOJ. But the judge’s ruling retroactively reinstates her, provides her with back pay and restores pension benefits for the four-month period before she took that new role.” (10/26/26)
- Walter Koenig, 1936-2026
Source: Deadline
“Walter Koenig, who originated the role of Ensign Pavel Chekov in the 1960s Star Trek TV series and several subsequent movies about the adventures of the USS Enterprise, has died, according to his rep. He was 90. Zachery McGinnis of Galactic Productions posted Monday on Facebook that Koenig died of natural causes in North Hollywood but did not provide other details. George Takei, who played Sulu on the original Star Trek, also posted on Koenig’s death.” (10/26/26)
https://deadline.com/2026/10/walter-koenig-star-trek-chekov-1237176812/
- Airline security theater: United flight turns around midair over text on passenger’s phone
Source: New York Post
“A United Airlines flight heading to New Jersey returned to Las Vegas following an apparent hijacking threat Saturday. United Flight 1681 was carrying 150 passengers and six crew members from Harry Reid International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport on Oct. 24 when a flight attendant noticed a traveler sending messages with reference to taking control of the plane. The crew member did not engage with the passenger and quickly alerted the pilot. ‘The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft. They called me. We went into lockdown, and we returned to Vegas,’ the flight’s pilot told an air traffic controller shortly after the plane took off, reported CBS News. When the controller inquired whether the passenger was cooperative or under restraint, the pilot said that the traveler showed ‘no restraint’ because ‘he’s unaware’.” (10/26/26)
- China: Communist Party opens fifth plenum with focus on discipline and loyalty to Xi
Source: South China Morning Post [Hong Kong]
“The Communist Party has started a key four-day conclave focused on party discipline and fighting corruption, as official media outlets say adherence to the party’s leadership under President Xi Jinping is key to the country’s success. The meeting – the fifth plenum of the Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee – began in Beijing on Monday, according to state news agency Xinhua. It said the main agenda for the plenum included a work report by the Politburo to the Central Committee and the adoption of a document aimed at ‘deepening party self-governance’.” (10/26/26)
- AK: Peltola pauses Senate campaign after car crash
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“Mary Peltola, Alaska’s Democratic Senate candidate, has paused campaigning ahead of the US midterm elections after sustaining ‘minor injuries’ in a car crash. Peltola, 53, and her family were travelling to an event on Saturday when the vehicle they were in was hit by another driver, her campaign said in a statement. She is running in one of the most closely watched races in the elections, which take place on 3 November – one that could help decide the balance of power in government. Peltola has rescheduled campaign events ‘as she takes time to recover’ on the advice of medical professionals, her campaign manager, Cheryl Bruce, said in a statement. ‘Mary and her family sustained minor injuries but are in good spirits,’ Bruce said.” (10/26/26)
- DOJ Just Made the Case for Ranked-Choice Voting
Source: RealClearPolitics
by Greg Orman“On Thursday the Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to block certification of the results in one specific case: if [US Senator Daniel S.] Sullivan loses but would have won had [candiate Daniel J.] Sullivan’s votes gone to him. The Justice Department argues that voters will be confused under Alaska’s ranked-choice system. It says the senator’s supporters may not know how to rank the Republicans on the ballot, and some may leave the incumbent off entirely. Election law scholars are skeptical of the suit’s legal footing. The deeper problem, though, is its logic. The confusion DOJ describes is far more damaging under the voting system the administration seems to prefer than under the one Alaska uses.” (10/26/26)
- Venezuela’s opportunity for reconciliation built on “truth” and “transparency”
Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff“Over decades of repressive government, public opinion surveys in Venezuela became increasingly rare before they stopped entirely – because citizens were too afraid to answer honestly. But after the United States’ capture of President Nicolás Maduro in January, when pollsters ask Venezuelans whom they would vote for in elections, one name has consistently topped the list: María Corina Machado. This, despite the opposition leader having been out of direct contact with her fellow citizens for close to two years, while in hiding and exile. On Sunday, Ms. Machado returned home, announcing her surprise arrival with a brief post on the social platform X: ‘I am here. With you’. Almost immediately, thousands of Venezuelans poured into the streets and highways as she attended a church service near the western border, before traveling to the capital, Caracas. Their enthusiastic reception underscored the enduring aspiration for democratic liberty and dignity after decades of political repression, economic mismanagement, and corruption.” (10/26/26)
- Gallup: Republicans Rank “Patriotism” as Top Needed Value; Democrats Rank it as “Equality”
Source: Jonathan Turley
by Jonathan Turley“Gallup released another poll showing just how divided the nation remains on core values. When asked, ‘which values the country most needs today?’, Republicans ranked ‘patriotism’ as number one while Democrats ranked ‘equality’. What is most alarming is that no shared value cracks fifty percent overall. Patriotism is only ranked in the top three shared values by 32 percent. (Freedom tops the list at only 38 percent). Gallup reports that ‘though no single value is selected by a majority of Americans, freedom (38%), patriotism (32%) and service (30%) receive the most mentions’.” [editor’s note: Does Turley think it’s a BAD thing that Americans value freedom more than those two varieties of servitude? – TLK] (10/27/26)
- Gas Attack: Blue States Have Highest Prices at the Pump
Source: Town Hall
by Stephen Moore“Democrats can’t seem to decide whether they want higher or lower gas prices. On the one hand, they’re promising that if they win a majority in Congress, they will work to bring down prices at the pump. On the other hand, they can’t bring down prices in their own blue states. We at Unleash Prosperity recently analyzed gas and diesel prices in the 50 states. Here’s what we found: The more Democratic a state, the higher the price of gas. For each additional percentage point of the state’s vote that went to former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, gas prices are about 2 cents higher. On average, deep-blue states pay about 25 cents a gallon more for gas than deep-red states. Yes, we know correlation is not causation (umbrellas don’t cause rain), but it does suggest that relying on Democrats to lower gas prices is probably a fool’s errand.” (10/27/26)
- The ever-faster decay of “public schools”
Source: The Price of Liberty
by Nathan Barton“Government-run, tax-funded schools are the ‘standard’ – even today, most people who home-school their children, or even who use private schools (including parochial ones) are looked on as being abnormal. While there are many problems with the GRTF schools, here is one critical challenge – which usually is not overcome. Auron MacIntyre recently shared his experiences as a schoolteacher under less than ideal conditions. Since everyone is taught to be a bean counter and be obsessed with ‘balancing,’ every standard of decency and excellence has to be sacrificed.” (10/26/26)
https://thepriceofliberty.org/2026/10/26/the-ever-faster-decay-of-public-schools/
- The Press Shouldn’t Hype Trump’s Bogus Alaska Lawsuit
Source: Washington Monthly
by Joshua A Douglas“While perhaps bumpy, the election will proceed as expected. Millions of people will cast their ballots—in fact, many already have through early or mail-in voting. Thousands of election workers will uphold democracy by counting ballots fairly and accurately. Election officials will certify the results. Close races may lead to post-election lawsuits. All of that is normal. What is abnormal is the president meddling in election processes. It’s also unconstitutional and unprecedented. Let’s make sure the American people have that vital information in every headline, push notification, social media post, and news story.” (10/26/26)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/10/26/the-press-shouldnt-hype-trumps-bogus-alaska-lawsuit/
- A Democratic Toolkit for Using a Midterm Win to Check Trump and Force a Reckoning
Source: The UnPopulist
by Andy Craig“With a lawless administration still in power, and Trump still wielding the veto pen, it’s far from guaranteed a Democratic Congress will be able to significantly rein him in. But there are still better and worse scenarios for what Democrats can accomplish depending on how strongly the party of Trump is repudiated at the polls. Partly it depends on how much they’re willing to play hardball. But partly it depends on just how many seats they win.” (10/26/26)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/a-democratic-toolkit-for-using-a
- America’s Best of Times, Worst of Times: Can Adam Smith Save the Future?
Source: Independent Institute
by Richard K Vedder“We Americans are the luckiest bunch of humans to ever live. We are more affluent than ever before, even though most Americans also have much more leisure than earlier generations. Our success is demonstrated by the large numbers of immigrants trying to permanently enter our country, often illegally [sic] at great risk. Compared with a century or even a generation ago, our houses are bigger and nicer (with air conditioning and upscale kitchen appliances), our cars are more luxurious and reliable than those of earlier generations, and we have new pleasures like social media and ocean cruises to entertain and titillate us when we are not watching movies or shows on giant screens unheard of a generation ago or on technologically advanced hand-held devices.” (10/26/26)
- Guerrilla Projections and Defending Democracy in Missouri
Source: The American Prospect
by David Dayen“The group was looking around for an available wall. Activists with Indivisible Kansas City were targeting Jon Patterson, the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, who is seeking a seat in the state Senate in a battleground race against Democratic state Rep. Keri Ingle. They had flyers to hand out, but Krista Mann, who organized the action, had also created a slide presentation reminding voters about Patterson’s longtime support for data centers. The slides explained that Patterson personally prevented votes on transparency measures and supported a bill allowing Missouri power companies to charge ratepayers for building electricity infrastructure ‘to provide the power that we need for the data centers’. Mann hooked a portable projector into her computer and displayed the presentation on a brick facade outside a bank. They called it a ‘guerrilla projection’.” (10/27/26)
https://prospect.org/2026/10/27/guerrilla-projections-defending-democracy-in-missouri/
- Is All Politics Still Local?
Source: Liberalism.org
by James Strickland“It has often been claimed that ‘all politics is local.’ That twentieth-century phrase is sometimes said, though incorrectly, to have originated with Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, who was known to say that the outcomes of congressional elections were determined by local issues. In other words, politicians running for national office must appeal to local voters and their concerns. Political scientists and others have since cast doubt on the influence of local voters and their concerns on national policy or trends. There may be less variety in local concerns or opinions across states or cities now than ever, and party platforms across states now resemble each other more than ever.” (10/26/26)
- The Equal Presumption of Liberty to Travel and Exchange
Source: Students For Liberty
by Dr. Tom G Palmer“There are such things in the world as human rights. They rest upon no conventional foundation, but are eternal, universal and indestructible. Among these is the right of locomotion; the right of migration; the right which belongs to no particular race, but belongs to all and to all alike. It is the right you assert by staying here, and your fathers asserted by coming here. The presumption of liberty is embedded in America’s Founding documents. … The right to come and go, to converse with whom we wish, to exchange with others on mutually agreeable terms, and more are presumed rights of human beings. Any who would restrict a person from interacting voluntarily with people of another religion or language, county or country, must bear the burden of justifying such restrictions.” (10/26/26)
https://studentsforliberty.org/blog/the-equal-presumption-of-liberty-to-travel-and-exchange/
- Ending the War Is the Only Sane Option
Source: Eunomia
by Daniel Larison“Quitting a failed war is wiser and cheaper than prolonging it. It is the war in Iran that has so destabilized and endangered other countries in the region. Ending that war won’t solve other problems in the region, but it will at least mean that the U.S. is not exacerbating them as much as it was.” (10/26/26)
https://daniellarison.substack.com/p/ending-the-war-is-the-only-sane-option
- We Don’t Just Want the Best People
Source: Bet On It
by Bryan Caplan“In my immigration debate last May with Garett Jones, he presented a memorable and compelling slogan, which he attributed to Papa John’s: ‘My theory of why institutions differ is called the Papa John’s theory of institutions. Better ingredients make better pizza. Choose your ingredients wisely.’ By implication, to get the best pizza, you should only choose the best ingredients. Indeed, the original draft of the Papa John’s slogan was ‘The Better the Ingredients, the Better the Pizza,’ and its founder John Schnatter once actually said, ‘We would make the best pizza with the best ingredients even though it cost us more.’ While humanitarians might demur, how could anyone disagree with this as the most prudent way to advance a nation’s welfare? My answer: Anyone who grasps Econ 1 should abjure these slogans as utter nonsense.” (10/26/26)
- Presidents Should Want Limits on Their Power
Source: The Daily Economy
by Jason Sorens“The more power presidents claim, the more responsibility they bear when things go wrong. Tariffs and the Iran War show why constitutional limits can be a political advantage.” (10/26/26)
https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/presidents-should-want-limits-on-their-power/
- Christian Support for Biblical Educational Coercion
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger“I recently received an email asking me to sign a petition that would put ‘biblical lessons’ back in public schools. The petition was sent out by an organization named Brave for Good, whose mission is to ‘equip families with stories, experiences, and community gatherings that nurture imagination, strengthen biblical values, and help raise a generation grounded in truth, courage, and character.’ … notice what that petition purports to do: It is based on forcing parents to send their children to a state institution to receive what amounts to religious indoctrination from government officials. How in the world can such a law be reconciled with the principles of a free society? It can’t be.” (10/26/26)
https://www.fff.org/2026/10/26/christian-support-for-biblical-educational-coercion/
- Brazil Votes for More Lula
Source: Wall Street Journal
by Mary Anastasia O’Grady“Brazil’s leftist President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva of the Workers’ Party defeated Senator Flávio Bolsonaro of the conservative Liberal Party in a runoff election Sunday. Going into the vote, pollsters gave Mr. Bolsonaro the edge but Lula had narrowed the gap. With 99% of the vote counted Lula had 52% to Mr. Bolsonaro’s 48%. This is a bitter disappointment for conservatives. But they’ll do well to note that Lula will take the oath of office Jan. 5 with the Brazilian right having gained ground. Mr. Bolsonaro surprised pollsters when he finished first in the first round on Oct. 4 with 47% of the vote against Lula’s 45.2%. Down ballot the right did even better. In the Senate, the Liberals won 19 seats out of 54 contested.” (10/25/26)
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/brazil-votes-for-more-lula-78df8f68?st=AVnjSV
- Why the Middle East is already waiting out Trump’s presidency
Source: Asia Times
by Nouroz Khan Bijarani“Eight months into the Iran war, Washington has neither broken Tehran’s resolve nor found a clear path out. The president’s own remarks point to a narrowing set of options. Trump told Time magazine he does not believe peace with Iran is ever possible, a striking admission from the leader still expected to negotiate one. … The Gulf states have reached the same conclusion. They are hedging accordingly against an American policy they no longer trust to last. The UAE joined the campaign against Iran in February, yet they opened a back channel with Iranians lately after the realization that it is better to deal directly instead of relying on the US.” (10/26/26)
https://asiatimes.com/2026/10/why-the-middle-east-is-already-waiting-out-trumps-presidency/
- What Rubio really means when he talks about “civilizational” renewal
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Andrew Earvolino“‘The story of our civilization is the greatest story ever known to man.’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered these triumphalist words earlier this month as he stood before the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Rubio’s speech, which centered the need for Western civilizational rejuvenation, received laudatory marks among conservative circles. On a certain level, this is unsurprising. Civilizationism is indeed the cause du jour on the new right. But on closer examination, one suspects that Rubio is not truly offering some radical new vision, but a lot of the same.” (10/26/26)
- Thanks Again, Obama: Without him, Trump would never have become president
Source: American Greatness
by Stephen Soukup“Over the weekend, Barack Obama appeared at a campaign rally for Democrats in Ohio and managed to make some headlines by ridiculing President Trump’s design skills. ‘He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory’, the former president quipped. The crowd, of course, loved it. The media did too. Republicans responded with some mockery of their own, pointing out that Obama has little room to talk about design preferences, given the architectural monstrosity that is his presidential library in Chicago. All things considered, Obama accomplished what he set out to do: he made himself the center of attention, which is the only place, apparently, that he feels comfortable. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Obama? The guy who left office ten years ago? Why is this multi-deci-millionaire running around the country trying to get socialists and socialist-adjacent candidates (including Abdul El-Sayed) elected to high office?” (10/26/26)
- Education, Vouchers, and School Choice
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Laurence M Vance“Education is a service just like the many other services that Americans purchase every day. … But, it has been argued, education is different. It is one of the most important services there is. It can’t possibly be left up to the free market. If the government doesn’t provide, fund, or regulate education, then many children will receive a substandard education or no education at all.” (10/26/26)
https://www.fff.org/explore-freedom/article/education-vouchers-and-school-choice-2/
- Quantum Vibe, 10/26/26
Source: Big Head Press
by Scott BieserCartoon. (10/26/26)
- The Problem Is: Are There Enough of Us Left?
Source: Town Hall
by Mark Lewis“There are certainly still millions of God-fearing, patriotic Americans remaining in the country. And they’ll vote next week. But the question has become: Are there enough of us left to save the nation? To too many Americans, politics and politicians have become the do-all and end-all for the country. To them, government is the new Messiah, and the people who work in it are our only hope and saviors. Thus, ‘electing the right people’ is the redemption of the nation. Countless Americans have now been taught to look at the world horizontally, at fallible, carnal, secular humans who have virtually no wisdom to deliver us, rather than looking up where the only answers are truly found.” (10/26/26)
- Liberty Is the Common Good of a Free People
Source: The Daily Economy
by Iain Murray“America’s founders understood that liberty and the common good were not competing ideals. Today’s postliberals are blaming the wrong tradition.” (10/26/26)
https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/liberty-is-the-common-good-of-a-free-people/
- A Latin American NATO? It May Be Necessary
Source: Libertarian Institute
by José Niño“The United States, losing its influence in Eurasia, has retreated to its own hemisphere to reassert its hegemony in the region. Congress offers no brake. A Senate war powers resolution on Venezuela died after Vice President J.D. Vance broke a 50-to-50 tie, and a U.S. House version failed 215 to 215. Regional diplomacy proved just as feeble. Brazil’s Lula said the Maduro operation ‘crossed an unacceptable line,’ yet an emergency CELAC meeting on January 4 ended without a statement because Argentina and roughly 9 other governments blocked consensus. The tragedy is that Latin Americans saw this coming two centuries ago. … The strong gods of hard power have returned, Washington tramples international law, and great powers everywhere assert themselves without apology. A bully stops only when someone stands up to their aggression.” (10/26/26)
https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/a-latin-american-nato-it-may-be-necessary
- Trump: A Feral Lame Duck
Source: Washington Monthly
by Jonathan Alter“How will historians view the 2026 midterm elections? My guess is that many of them will write that ‘the Affordability Crisis’ helped save democracy. Without a dumb war and high diesel prices, Donald Trump’s autocratic behavior might have been validated at the polls. Imagine a world where 2027 and 2028 were more sinister versions of 2025. Look instead for a neutered beast. For all the talk about the House and Senate, these midterms may be remembered by history for a race for governor—a campaign that featured the most disgusting political ad in the history of television. Echoing Roy Cohn’s maxim to never, ever admit error, Donald Trump and JD Vance (Vivek Ramaswamy’s close friend and Yale Law classmate) doubled down on a child molester who raped both his daughter and, later, his stepdaughter. The latter was 12-year-old Amy Acton, now expected to be the governor-elect of Ohio.” (10/26/26)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/10/26/trump-a-feral-lame-duck/
- Abdul El-Sayed Would Freeze the Bill of Rights in the 18th Century
Source: Reason
by JD Tuccille“Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, is the latest politician to suggest that the Second Amendment might shield the right to bear arms, but only those that existed at the time that it was adopted: namely, flintlock muskets. It’s a not-so-clever way of trimming back the Constitution’s protections. The argument’s flaws should be clear: the U.S. Supreme Court has already dismissed that line of reasoning, and a world in which the Bill of Rights applies only to 18th century technology would be one where freedom exists only in museum exhibits.” (10/26/26)
https://reason.com/2026/10/26/abdul-el-sayed-would-freeze-the-bill-of-rights-in-the-18th-century/
- Your speech, their rules: How foreign governments censor Americans
Source: Expression
by Trace Mitchell“It is a random Tuesday night, and you are relaxing on your living room couch scrolling through your social media feed. … You make fun of a politician you don’t like, share a clip from an interview with your favorite political talking head, crack a joke about a pressing social issue, or make a plug for the blog post that you just finished writing. Then, you head to bed without giving it a second thought. This is America, after all, and the First Amendment is always there to protect you from the government. Well, to protect you from our government. Under the First Amendment, the United States cannot retaliate against you for constitutionally protected speech and expression. But the First Amendment does not necessarily protect you from a bureaucrat in Brussels, a judge in Brazil, or a police force in Hong Kong.” (10/26/26)
https://expression.fire.org/p/your-speech-their-rules-how-foreign
- The Real Culprit Behind High Grocery Prices
Source: The Atlantic
by Rogé Karma“Although neither farmers nor grocers make very much money, many of the middlemen who operate between them make plenty of it.” (10/26/26)
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/10/grocery-prices-public-option/689132/
- We Should be Optimistic About the Internet Again
Source: Aaron Ross Powell
by Aaron Ross Powell“I want the internet to be better. There’s of course always the risk of nostalgia building an unearned sense that it in fact used to be, in every way. That the era before, say, Facebook was idyllic, or the time of Blogger and Movable Type a paradise of thoughtful and thought-elevating discourse. We tend not to remember the warts, and so think a return to the old ways is invariably a return to better ways. But I do think there are ways it has declined. The rise of platforms and the centralization that came with them has tipped the balance away from small and weird and obsessive and towards big and bland and optimized. … a lot of ‘making things better’ will entail making things smaller. Giving people communities they control the boundaries of, and letting them exist in multiple communities at once.” (10/26/26)
- Absurd court farce on noncitizen ballots leaves Voter ID as the only cure
Source: New York Post
by Joel Pollak“Voter ID is the only way to fix California’s broken election system. That’s the only reasonable conclusion from Sunday’s extraordinary hearing at the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A three-judge panel heard the Trump administration’s case against non-citizen voting in California. Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) gave California a thumb drive with 20,000 names on it, ostensibly containing the names of suspected non-citizens who had registered to vote in the state. State and county officials, who had already sent ballots out by mail, refused to open it. So the DOJ sued in district court, hoping to force California to set aside those 20,000 ballots if and when they came in. Time is of the essence: ballots are already being mailed back, and counted. And once they are in, it’s almost impossible to fish them out again.” (10/25/26)
https://nypost.com/2026/10/25/opinion/absurd-non-citizen-voting-farce-leaves-voter-id-as-only-cure/
- Honest Men Turned Knaves
Source: Law & Liberty
by Max Skjönsberg“The force of partisan strife in modern politics should make us appreciate the need for checks and balances.” (10/26/26)
- The Spirit of Democracy Remains Strong
Source: Persuasion
by Francis Fukuyama“The news from Brazil, Serbia, and Venezuela should be celebrated. But it’s too soon to say if these victories are sustainable.” (10/26/26)
https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-spirit-of-democracy-remains-strong
- At Harvard, a pitch for constitutional free fall
Source: hypertext
by Matt Dreher“Frustrated by our politics, some intellectuals want to roll the dice on a vaguely defined Article V convention. What could go wrong?” (10/26/26)
https://hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/at-harvard-a-pitch-for-constitutional
- The Write-In Stuff
Source: The American Conservative
by Bill Kauffman“Must all change always be for the worst? In classic ‘arsenic or cyanide, sir?’ fashion, New Yorkers are given the Hobson’s choice between a Democratic Party that has lost any connection to rural and working-class Americans and a Republican Party that is running this year on the Iran War and building more data centers. Whoopee! Ever Pollyanna, I tease out the silver lining in this assault on democracy by scribbling write-in votes, so on November 3, 2026, I’ll be doing just that. And y’know, it’s kinda fun.” (10/26/26)
- The Most Important Midterm Race Is El-Sayed vs. Rogers in Michigan
Source: Common Dreams
by James Zogby“The Michigan Senate race between the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, and his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, is this year’s most important election. It’s significant, on a number of levels, not the least of which is that El-Sayed is an Arab American Muslim of Egyptian descent. Prior to this, we’ve had four Arab Americans elected to the US Senate (former Majority Leader George Mitchell [D-ME], James Abourezk [D-SD], James Abdnor [R-SD], and John Sununu [R-NH]), none of them Muslim. If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim in the Senate. This is a breakthrough that hasn’t been lost on Republicans and President Trump, who have made a determined effort to exploit it at every turn. They’ve done TV ads alleging that El-Sayed’s mother was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1970s.” [editor’s note: The headline is likely correct, but maybe not for the reasons given here – SAT] (10/26/26)
- Pink Flame of Liberty, 10/26/26
Source: Pink Flame of Liberty
“The PARASITIC Rupture of American Politics.” (10/26/26)
- The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, 10/27/26
Source: The New Republic
“Angry Trump Unravels as Brutal New Early Voting Data Rattles Even MAGA.” (10/27/26)
- NPR Politics Podcast, 10/27/26
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“The DOJ wades into elections with unprecedented cases.” (10/26/26)
https://www.npr.org/2026/10/26/nx-s1-6017184/the-doj-wades-into-elections-with-unprecedented-cases
- Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp, 10/26/26
Source: Antiwar.com
“Senior Saudi, Pakistani, and Turkish Officials Visit Iran, Israeli Drones Burn Gaza Tents, and More.” (10/26/26)
- Minor Issues, 10/26/26
Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
“We Needed Higher Oil Prices.” (10/26/26)
https://mises.org/podcasts/minor-issues/we-needed-higher-oil-prices
- Reason Roundtable, 10/26/26
Source: Reason
“California’s Wealth Tax Could Cost the State $39 Billion.” (10/26/26)
https://reason.com/podcast/2026/10/26/californias-wealth-tax-could-cost-the-state-39-billion/
- Ron Paul Liberty Report, 10/26/26
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
“Obama Comes Out Swinging On Iran.” (10/26/26)
- Politico Playbook Audio Briefing, 10/26/26
- Rising, 10/26/26
Source: The Hill
“‘Cheesecake Factory’: Obama trashes Trump despite numerous failures!” (10/26/26)
- Parallax Views w/ JG Michael, 10/26/26
Source: Parallax Views w/ JG Michael
“The Zodiac Killer C̶a̶s̶e̶ Hoax? w/ Eddie McNamara.” (10/26/26)
- Fountainhead Forum, episode 507
Source: Fountainhead Forum
“Nadine Strossen on the ongoing fight for free speech in America.” (10/26/26)
- The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, 10/26/26
Source: The New Republic
“Trump Rages Viciously at Young Female Journo—and Even Fox Is Cringing.” (10/26/26)
- Interviews by Claire Lehmann, 10/26/26
Source: Quillette
“Gemma Tognini on Australia’s Political Revolt.” (10/26/26)
https://quillette.com/2026/10/26/gemma-tognini-on-australias-political-revolt/
- EconTalk, 10/26/26
Source: EconTalk
“How Your Situation Shapes You (with Angela Duckworth).” (10/26/26)
https://www.econtalk.org/how-your-situation-shapes-you-with-angela-duckworth/
- Neon Liberalism, episode 96
Source: Liberal Currents
“The Lies of Hearts of Iron.” (10/26/26)
https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-lies-of-hearts-of-iron-neon-liberalism-96-with-bret-devereaux/
- Pink Flame of Liberty, 10/26/26
Source: Pink Flame of Liberty
“The Case for Christian Nationalism Discussion: Cultural Christo-Authoritarianism (pt. 7).” (10/26/26)
- The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg, 10/26/26
Source: The Dispatch
“A Leader Doth Not a Statesman Make | Interview: Steven B. Smith.” (10/26/26)
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/remnant/a-leader-doth-not-a-statesman-make-interview-steven-b-smith/
- Free Talk Live, 10/25/26
Source: Free Talk Live
“Is voting pointless? :: Tim in FL calls and talks about death :: Dying :: Dave Ridley calls about a religious lawsuit against Dover NH :: Property taxes :: NHcornerstone.org :: Film the authorities when they harass you! :: Expatriation laws :: Sarah in NM calls about mail in ballots being smeared with fentanyl :: Skeeter calls to accuse and project :: Taxation is (not?) theft :: Should kids be educated? :: David in NM calls to educate us on how to end a call :: I love you, bye :: 2026-10-25 :: Hosts: Stu, Mr. Penguin, Mark Edge.” (10/25/26)
- Zooming In, 10/25/26
Source: The UnPopulist
“Liberals Need to Live Their Creed: A Conversation Between Jonathan Rauch and Alexandre Lefebvre.” (10/25/26)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/liberals-need-to-live-their-creed
- Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp, 10/25/26
Source: Antiwar.com
“Report: Netanyahu Clashes With IDF Chief Over Iran, Saudi Airstrikes Kill 17 Civilians, and More.” (10/25/26)